A Scout’s Take: Izaiyah Nelson Demands Your Attention
South Florida's double-double machine, Izaiyah Nelson, is outperforming expectations as a transfer up from Arkansas State. He should be rising on draft radars and demands your attention.
South Florida big man Izaiyah Nelson is demanding the attention of scouts and evaluators in what’s been a steady several year progression into a superb senior season. The transfer from Arkansas State is averaging 16.2 PPG, 10 RPG, 0.9 APG, 1.6 SPG, and 1.5 BPG across 26.2 MPG.
A Georgia native from Marietta High School, Nelson initially committed to Arkansas State, where he spent three seasons under Head Coach Bryan Hodgson, progressively increasing his role and responsibilities each year. In his final season donning a Red Wolves uniform, Nelson was named to the All-Sun Belt Third Team with averages of 10.6 PPG, 8.9 RPG, 0.7 SPG, and 1.3 BPG in 24 minutes per game on the way to the best record in program history, 25 wins and 11 losses.
Coach Hodgson’s decision to accept the South Florida opening presented the perfect opportunity for Nelson to transfer up, continue his growth, and challenge himself on a larger stage. The results speak for themselves in Nelson’s best collegiate season, which places him among the frontrunners for multiple American Conference honors, including Player of the Year. That’s quite the development for a prospect who produced 8.6 points, 8.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.0 blocks as a high school senior.
What has Izaiyah Nelson poised to collect multiple American Conference honors and demand the attention of the NBA Draft community?
Offensive Profile
Nelson understands how to leverage motor and physical tools to excel in an energy big play finisher role. Around 6’10” and 218 pounds, he possesses a strong frame, long arms, and explosive above-the-rim burst. Simply put, Nelson looks the part and should hold his own against NBA athleticism and physicality.
Per Synergy, Nelson is converting 71.3% of his rim attempts in the halfcourt, including 29 dunks. He’s a threat in the pick-and-roll lob game, operating the dunker spot, finishing drop-offs, cutting, and running the floor for easy scoring opportunities.
The motor really shows up on the offensive glass, where he creates second chance opportunities for himself and others. Corralling a career-high 3.9 offensive rebounds per game, defenders must put a body on him at all times. Nelson hunts offensive rebounds in and out of his area. Even if a defender manages to get a body on him, it may not be enough. The high-flying Nelson is more than capable of finishing big putback dunks over defenders and in traffic.
The primary knock around Nelson’s offensive profile is that there isn’t much modernization to his game, especially considering he lacks ideal center size. Although I wouldn’t invest in Nelson expecting him to develop into a reliable shooter, there are some positive shooting indicators to explore in his free-throw percentage (72.3% on 5.9 FTA) and mechanics despite an awful career 15.7% three-point mark on 51 total attempts. Becoming a capable corner three-point shooter or mid-range shooter to add some dimension to his pick-and-roll finishing shouldn’t be entirely out of the question.
Defensive Profile
The defensive end is where Nelson has historically made his name. A fluid mover and quick-twitch athlete, Nelson is a stock monster (3.1 stocks) whose defensive value is rooted in his defensive playmaking and versatility. He’s a weakside shot-blocking presence that’s also able to defend at the level of the screen and in space on switches. When Nelson is playing at the level of the ball screen/up to touch, that’s where his quick and active hands can really shine.
One of my favorite Nelson defensive possessions came earlier this season against George Washington. The possession below, he gives multiple efforts to hedge and recover, then ends the possession by cutting off a drive in help to play both Marshall Jr.’s drive (#24) and drop off pass to a formidable finisher in Rafael Castro. That’s the type of motor, energy, and defensive engagement that will help fuel his draft stock and NBA staying power.
Nelson’s physical tools and motor are also leveraged on the defensive glass. Rebounding is a trait that consistently translates to the next level, and Nelson has been an impactful rebounder at Arkansas State (5.7 defensive rebounds last season) and South Florida (6.1 defensive rebounds per game). Nelson has gobbled up double-digit rebounds in all but five games this season (17 total games).
Closing Thoughts
Izaiyah Nelson is an NBA ready big man who understands how to thrive in a translatable, valuable energy big role despite lacking the ideal modern skill set. Offensively, Nelson excels as an athletic playfinisher and second-chance points creator. Defensively, he impacts the game as a shot-blocker and disruptor.
Nelson is a perfect Portsmouth Invitational Tournament and G-League Elite Camp candidate. I fully expect him to be invited to at least one of those storied pre-draft events, where he’ll have an incredible opportunity to impress NBA decision-makers in a high-pressure setting. Nelson’s tools, NBA role, and production demand your attention now, and they certainly will in the pre-draft process as a potential quality add on the margins.
How high in the draft do you think he can go?